Metastasis of lung cancer through Batson’s plexus: very rare but possible

Many malignancies, like prostate, colon, and breast cancer, metastasize throughBatson’s plexus (vertebral venous plexus). Although lung cancer is one of the mostcommon cancers in the United States, its spread through Batson’s plexus is consideredextremely rare. We report a 76-year-old woman with ade...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ragesh Panikkath, Saba Radhi, Sian Yik Lim, Manoj Thankam, Frank Quattromani, Cynthia Ann Jumper
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2013-09-01
Series:Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles
Subjects:
Online Access:http://pulmonarychronicles.com/index.php/pulmonarychronicles/article/view/84
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Summary:Many malignancies, like prostate, colon, and breast cancer, metastasize throughBatson’s plexus (vertebral venous plexus). Although lung cancer is one of the mostcommon cancers in the United States, its spread through Batson’s plexus is consideredextremely rare. We report a 76-year-old woman with adenocarcinoma of the lung whohad metastasis affecting multiple contiguous vertebral bodies likely due to disseminationthrough Batson’s plexus of veins. This plexus is a component of the cerebrospinalvenous system (CSVS) consisting of the cranial venous system and the vertebralvenous plexus (Batson’s plexus). The CSVS is a valveless network of veins which areimportant in the venous drainage of the brain and spine. However, this venous networkprovides an easy channel for the dissemination of infections and malignant cells.
ISSN:2325-9205